Latest news with #QScale
CBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Quebec AI data centre company shortlists Waterloo region as part of expansion plans into Ontario
Quebec AI data centre company QScale says it has shortlisted Waterloo region for a future site as they expand operations into Ontario. QScale CEO Martin Bouchard said in an email to CBC News that they're looking at Wilmot Township as a possible location. "We are currently evaluating several sites across the province and will share further details once our assessment is complete," Bouchard said. Bouchard added data centres "are essential to driving Canadian innovation and ensuring sovereign AI capabilities." He did not say if there was a timeline for a decision on their Ontario expansion and how many jobs a potential data centre site would add to the local economy. He also did not say what other communities it is considering in the province. QScale, based in Lévis, Que., says on its website that it "develops environmentally responsible computing centers specifically designed for high-performance computing, supercomputing and machine learning." The company's main campus in the Quebec City area is approximately 86,400 square meters, or the size of approximately 16 football fields. It has 142 megawatts power capacity and uses 100 per cent renewable energy, the company's website says.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Wilmot Township could host future AI data centre
Wilmot Township is under consideration as the future home for a multi-billion dollar AI data centre. In an email to CTV News of Wednesday, Martin Bouchard, chief executive officer and co-founder of QScale, confirmed the company is 'evaluating several expansion opportunities in Ontario.' QScale is a company based out of Lévis, Quebec that develops AI data centres. Although Bouchard did not specifically narrow down the areas currently being assessed, when asked if Wilmot and other parts of Waterloo Region were possible contenders for the project he responded, '… it's true that Wilmot is part of many regions we are considering.' The news comes as controversy continues to surround a land assembly project in the Bleams Road and Nafzinger Line area of Wilmot. In March 2024, farmers living the area discovered the Region of Waterloo was looking to buy 770 acres of land across six different farm properties to put together 'a shovel-ready site' for future large-scale development. Since then, there have been multiple protests against the idea, with some advocates worried about what the loss of viable farmland could mean for the community. In May of this year, the region said 550 acres had been secured as part of the effort. That much land is considered to be a 'mega-site' under provincial guidelines. The region has repeatedly insisted the land parcel is not being put together with any specific development in mind. 'The region is continually in conversation with industry leaders and various levels of government about possible future investment,' the Region of Waterloo said in an emailed statement on Wednesday. 'Our efforts now will put the Region in a stronger position to attract a large investment in the future. Any future investment would be subject to further approvals before it could proceed.'
